lavish
LAV-ish
/ˈlævɪʃ/
(adj) Sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious; (verb) bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities on.
As an adjective, it describes something done or given in great quantities, often implying generosity or extravagance. As a verb, it means to give generously or extravagantly.
The story behind the word. The word 'lavish' has a surprisingly watery origin! It comes from the Old French word 'lavasse,' which meant 'deluge' or 'downpour,' and is related to 'laver,' meaning 'to wash.' Think of a huge, overflowing wash of something. Over time, this idea of an abundant outpouring shifted from water to things like gifts, praise, or spending, giving us our modern sense of generous and extravagant quantities.
Word relationships
- extravagant: Often implies excessive spending or going beyond what is reasonable, sometimes with a negative connotation. 'Lavish' can be positive (generous) or neutral.
- sumptuous: Emphasizes richness and costliness, often for things like food or decor.
- opulent: Suggests a grand, showy display of wealth, similar to 'lavish' but often more about the overall environment.
- generous: Focuses on the willingness to give, while 'lavish' describes the quantity or quality of what is given.
- sparse: Thinly dispersed or scattered; meager.
- frugal: Sparing or economical with regard to money or food.
- meager: Lacking in quantity or quality.
Commonly confused with
- extravagant: 'Lavish' can be positive (generous, abundant) or neutral, while 'extravagant' often carries a connotation of excessive or wasteful spending.
Word family
- lavishly (adverb): In a rich, elaborate, or luxurious manner; in generous or extravagant quantities.
Collocations
- lavish lifestyle
- lavish spending
- lavish praise
- lavish gifts
- lavish attention
Example sentences
- "The wedding reception was a lavish affair, with a seven-course meal and live orchestra." Describing a party
- "She would lavish praise on her students whenever they achieved a breakthrough." Describing giving
- "He presented her with a lavish bouquet of exotic flowers." Describing a gift
Memory hook
If you 'LAVISH' someone with gifts, you 'LOVE' them 'A LOT' and give generously. LOVE A LOT
When not to use
Avoid using 'lavish' for small, inexpensive gifts or simple actions. It implies a significant, often luxurious, expenditure or outpouring.
Fun facts
- The verb 'to lave,' meaning 'to wash,' is a direct descendant of the same Latin root 'lavare' that ultimately gave us 'lavish'.
Related words
Explore more words
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.